Ram Timings

[News]

I am buying new ram and I am lost on the refrence to timings. I am looking
at Kingston HyperX KHX3700K2 with timings of 3-4-4-8 and OCZ with timings of
2-3-3-6. Which would be better choice? Can I get better timings from the
OCZ. Is a higher number in timings better to overclock?

 

[Mike Walsh]

Lower numbers are better for overclocking.

I am buying new ram and I am lost on the refrence to timings. I am looking
at Kingston HyperX KHX3700K2 with timings of 3-4-4-8 and OCZ with timings of
2-3-3-6. Which would be better choice? Can I get better timings from the
OCZ. Is a higher number in timings better to overclock?

 

[kony]

I am buying new ram and I am lost on the refrence to timings. I am looking
at Kingston HyperX KHX3700K2 with timings of 3-4-4-8 and OCZ with timings of
2-3-3-6. Which would be better choice? Can I get better timings from the
OCZ. Is a higher number in timings better to overclock?

Lower timings are better, BUT it also depends on the speed
you'll run it. The Kingston is PC3700 memory and that is
part of the reason why it has higher timings, and would
usually run at lower timings at (enough) lower than
DDR466/233MHz memory bus. Since you don't mention the
PC(nnnn) rating of the OCZ we can't directly compare them,
but if the OCZ is PC3200 or higher then it is "probably"
slightly better memory (or at least spec'd better for common
200MHz/DDR400 bus speeds).

 

[News]

Im getting those numbers for the OCZ, and it is PC3200. I assume that an
ASUS board will run the 3700 at better than its 3-4-4-8 defaults? Which
numbers are better to try and adjust?

 

[kony]

Im getting those numbers for the OCZ, and it is PC3200. I assume that an
ASUS board will run the 3700 at better than its 3-4-4-8 defaults? Which
numbers are better to try and adjust?

It is likely that an Asus board will run the PC3700 at
better timings, but I certainly can't guarantee this. You
could manually set lower timings and test stability.

However, if you're not going to be running at 233MHz memory
bus clock, there's no point in buying PC3700 memory. On the
other hand, if you ARE going to o'c to 233MHz bus, you
couldn't assume the OCZ would work at it's 200MHz spec'd
timings either. Buy memory spec'd to run at your intended
bus speed whether it be the default or if you intend to o'c
it. For stock bus speed I'd buy the OCZ out of the two
choices but certainly there are other memory choices too.

 

[News]

The OZC is OCZ400512R2 and I am running a 2.8 northwoods...

 

[News]

Well, a friend has the Kingston and his timings are 2-3-3-6@245 on his 2.8
is at 3.4, maybe thats not too bad!

 

[kony]

Well, a friend has the Kingston and his timings are 2-3-3-6@245 on his 2.8
is at 3.4, maybe thats not too bad!

1) Kingston memory bought from a different place or
different time may not be exact same memory even with same
model #.

2) Friend with different board or same-board/different-bios
may have different results than you. Your results might be
better or worse.

Overclocking is a gamble one takes when buying parts towards
that end... and at best you're only guaranteed the spec on
the memory, nothing more. That's to be expected so you can
only test your target speed, preferribly for several hours,
even more than a day with memtest86+. When in doubt, run
the memory slower than max stable tested speed, it's always
better to have a little stability margin and assurance of
properly functioning system even if it means giving up
0.33% performance.

 

[News]

Thanks Kony for your input

1) Kingston memory bought from a different place or
different time may not be exact same memory even with same
model #.

2) Friend with different board or same-board/different-bios
may have different results than you. Your results might be
better or worse.

Overclocking is a gamble one takes when buying parts towards
that end... and at best you're only guaranteed the spec on
the memory, nothing more. That's to be expected so you can
only test your target speed, preferribly for several hours,
even more than a day with memtest86+. When in doubt, run
the memory slower than max stable tested speed, it's always
better to have a little stability margin and assurance of
properly functioning system even if it means giving up
0.33% performance.